THUNDER BAY - When Lynda McKeown became the first woman dental hygienist in what would become the city of Thunder Bay 60 years ago, she faced many barriers, but she pushed through the challenges to become one of the leading champions of oral health in the city and beyond.
“It was a little unusual being the first dental hygienists here,” she said. “People were not used to a woman working in their mouth so it took some getting used to at the beginning. But obviously we have blended into the oral health care field.”
McKeown was one of four influential women inducted into this year’s city of Thunder Bay Archives’ Women’s History Month Exhibit.
The online exhibit was first created in 2013 to celebrate the contributions of women to the city and wider community.
In addition to McKeown, this year’s inductees included Dorothy Mary Pickup, the first alderwoman elected in Fort William in 1951, accomplished historian and author, Jean Morrison, and Mildred Jane Foster, known for her dedicated community service and helping to develop the 55-Plus Centre.
“It’s great to honour all of the women’s achievements in Thunder Bay and acknowledge how they have affected our community and the entire country as well,” said Christina Wakefield, city archivist.
“Year after year we always find more women who have helped our community and also promoted Thunder Bay on the world stage and the national stage as well. They are pioneers in their field, like Lynda McKeown today. It’s important to keep going because there are so many women in Thunder Bay who make such a big difference in our community.”
McKeown said she is honoured to be included alongside so many great and influential women inducted in this year’s exhibit.
“It’s very exciting to be part of this and join this illustrious group of women,” she said. “I know many of them and worked with some of them in the past. I feel very honoured and humbled.”
Not only did McKeown break barriers in Thunder Bay, she has promoted the importance of oral health on the national and international stage by conducting research and participating on various boards and organizations.
“We still have a long ways to go,” she said. “Oral health is still not seen as a priority and oral health needs to be included in all areas of legislation and dental hygienists included in community clinics would be a good thing.”
McKeown said there are still challenges faced by women entering the profession.
Her advice to young women entering any field is to not give up and recognize that creating change is a collaborative effort.
“One big thing is: you can’t do these things on your own,” she said. “It takes a collaborative effort. Join your organizations. I belong to my local society and was one of the founding members of the local society, and a member of the Ontario Hygienist Association, Canadian Dental Hygienists association. We have a lot to contribute but we need to do it together.”
The City Archives Women’s History Month Exhibit can be viewed online.
